Governments spend less on health, while out-of-pocket costs highest in a decade

By Amy Corderoy
Updated October 17 2014 - 10:33am, first published September 24 2014 - 2:19am
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"No justification" for plans to cut Medicare rebate: Brian Owler. Photo: Andrew Meares
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.
"A real hit to the hip pocket": Consumers Health Forum chief executive Adam Stankevicius.

Australians' out-of-pocket healthcare costs are the highest they have been in a decade, while growth in spending from state and federal governments is at a record low.